An order permitting the merging of the United Hebrew Charities with the Jewish Social Service Association, to be known in the future under the latter name, was signed by Supreme Court Justice Proskauer. Leopold Plant. President of the United Hebrew Charities, announced the change which is immediately effective, Sunday.
The change reflects the drift from charity to social work during the fifty-two years of the organization’s existence. As the word “charities implies alms-giving, it was decided that the old title no longer accurately described the work of the association.
Another reason for the change, it was announced, was that a certain stigma attached to the word “charity,” which caused embarrassment to those helped by the organization, and prevented many proud families from accepting its services. It was also felt that the new name would give the community a better idea of what the organization does, and prevent misinterpretation that has sometimes proved an obstacle in winning outside interest and cooperation, especially among employers.
The United Hebrew Charities was organized in 1874, when there were only 60,000 Jews in New York City, as a central relief organization for Jewish charities as a result of much criticism of overlapping by the current charitable organizations.
In the last ten or fifteen years the movement has crystallized in such a way as to change the entire nature of the work of the organization and lead to the decision to change its name.
The organization is one of the ninety-one constituent societies of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, which contributed $628,059 in 1925 for the maintenance of this organization.
The petition to Justice Proskauer to permit the change said that the United Hebrew Charities had total property amounting to $735,565. of which $447,814 was in bonds and $287,500 in mortgages, the remainder being the value of a lot in Yonkers. Liabilities of $12,259 included an overdraft of $9,771. The general contributions to the organization last year amounted to $682,545, of which $627,842 came from the Federation for the Support, of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, and $13.829 from legacies. Of total special contributions of $97,690 during the year the largest item $24,872, came from the New York “Times” Neediest Cases Appeal.
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